GB2190251A

GB2190251A - Support arrangement for motors

Info

Publication number: GB2190251A
Application number: GB08710766A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giovanni Giabardo; Pietro Grassato
Original assignee: Zanussi Elettromeccanica SpA
Current assignee: ACC Compressors SpA
Priority date: 1986-05-08
Filing date: 1987-05-07
Publication date: 1987-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-07
Also published as: FR2598444A3; GB2190251B; FR2598444B3; DE8706049U1; IT211131Z2; GB8710766D0; IT8634024V0

Abstract

A support arrangement for electric motors of for example clothes washing machines comprises at least one bracket provided with seats 18 for receiving the elements for fixing to the tub of the clothes washing machine, the bracket (17) being standardised for any type of motor by being provided over the entire length thereof with a profiled leg, casing portions (6, 7) also being standardised, one being provided with a through-seat 16 and the other being provided with a blind seat (15) by means of which they are engaged and positioned on the profiled leg of said bracket. Hubs 11, 10 of the casings are provided with mountings 12, 13 for anti-vibrations sleeve members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support arrangement for motors of clothes washing machines and like machines The present invention relates to a support arrangement for mounting the motor which produces rotary movement of the drum in clothes washing machines and like machines.

The motors which are used at the present time in such machines are of very different types from the point of view of the dimensions thereof, which are dependent on the respective power outputs thereof, and thus require shield or casing portions and brackets of suitable and diversified constructions to be assembled and subsequently fixed to the tubs of the machines. This results in the need to prepare specific moulds for the various types of casing portions and to design brackets of different shapes and dimensions. In addition the mounting operation requires suitable equipment and cannot be carried out with automated processes.

As will become apparent from the following description, the invention can provide a universal support comprising a single type of bracket associated with a single pair of casing portions, which is suitable for motors of any type and size, in such a way as to make mounting of said motors more convenient and simpler. Therefore the support arrangement according to the invention can make it possible to reduce the number of moulds for the casing portions, to use a single mounting apparatus which effects assembly in an automated procedure of the casing portions with the various lamination packs of the motor and with the support brackets, and to reduce the stocking and movementation of a plurality of components.

According to the present invention, there is provided, in combination, a motor of a clothes washing machine or like machines and a support arrangement for the motor comprising a pair of two casing portions which are mounted on at least one bracket of the support arrangement, the bracket being provided with seats for elements for fixing to the tub of the cothes washing machine, the bracket being provided over the entire length thereof with a profiled leg, said casing portions being provided with seats by means of which they are engaged and positioned on the profiled leg of said bracket complementary to the profile of the leg, the seat on one of the casing portions being a through-seat through which the leg can extend and the seat on the other casing portion being blind.

A second aspect of the invention provides an electric motor for a clothes washing machine or like machines, the motor having a pair of casing portions at opposed ends, the casing portions having defined thereon at least one pair of seats for receiving a profiled leg of a support arrangement for the motor, the seats of the pair having substantially the same cross-sectional shape and size as one another and being aligned lengthwise of the motor, one of the seats of the pair being a throughseat, through which the profiled leg can extend and the other being blind.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method of installing a motor in a clothes washing machine or like machine using a support arrangement comprising at least one bracket having a profiled leg comprising selecting one from a plurality of different motors, the motors each having a pair of casing portions provided with at least one pair of seats complementary to the profile of the profiled leg, one of the seats of each pair being a through-seat through which the profiled leg can extend and the other being blind, and engaging the leg of the or each bracket with the seats of the two casing portions of the selected motor.

The features of the invention will be apparent from the following description by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a motor provided with an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the motor for a clothes washing machine is essentially formed by a lamination pack 5 contained between two shield or casing portions 6 and 7 and provided with a shaft 8 on which a grooved pulley 9 is carried. The latter guides a transmission belt (not shown) which connects the drive shaft 8 to the shaft of the drum of the machine.

The casing portions 6 and 7 are of a similar profile and are both provided with a hub portion 10 and 11 respectively, each hub portion also being provided with a seat 12 and 13 for accommodating respectively anti-vibration sleeve members (silent blocks).

One of the casing portions is also provided with four holes 14 for frontal mounting of the motor to the tub of the clothes washing machine.

Provided in one casing portion 7 are two blind (i.e. closed at one end) seats 15 of substantially T-shaped configuration, while similarly provided in the other casing portion 6 are two through seats 16 which are of a shaped configuration. The casing portions are engaged and positioned on respective brackets 17 by means of such seats 15 and 16.

The brackets are of unified shapes and dimensions and can be produced from cut and bent sheet or of rigid moulded plastics material.

The brackets 17 comprise a profiled leg of substantially T-shaped configuration (shown in particular in section A-A in Fig. 2) for cou pling and sliding movement with the corresponding complementarily shaped and dimensioned seats 15 and 16 of the casing portions.

It will be appreciated that the profile of the legs of the brackets 17 and that of the seats 15 and 16 may be different from that illustrated but in any case the respective profiles must be mutually corresponding to produce the necessary connecting action.

It will be apparent that, with a single type of bracket 17 and with a single pair of casing portions 6 and 7, all types of motors can be assembled and mounted in position.

Indeed, the casing portions are fitted and slid along the brackets, moving them into the position suited to the various dimensions of the lamination packs of the various types of motors.

Unification of the brackets and the casing portions permit automatic mounting of all the motors and associated supports by means of a single piece of equipment, thus producing the maximum productive and economic advantage with maximum operating flexibility.

Finally the brackets 17 are provided at the ends thereof with lugs 18 for the elements (not shown) for fixing to the tubs of the clothes washing machines, if the mode of fitting is not of the frontal type.

The support arrangement is thus truly universal insofar as, besides being adapted to any type of motor, it permits adaptation to any type of mounting of the motor in the clothes washing machines.

Although in the above the invention has been described with reference to its application to the motor of a clothes washing machine, it is equally applicable to the motors of other types of machine e.g. clothes driers and dishwashing machines.

Claims

1. In combination, a motor of a clothes washing machine or like machine and a support arrangement for the motor comprising a pair of two casing portions which are mounted on at least one bracket of the support arrangement, the bracket being provided with seats for elements for fixing to the tub of the clothes washing machine, the bracket being provided over the entire length thereof with a profiled leg, said casing portions being provided with seats by means of which they are engaged and positioned on the profiled leg of said bracket complementary to the profile of the leg, the seat on one of the casing portions being a through-seat through which the leg can extend and the seat on the other casing portion being blind.

2. A support arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said bracket is shaped from sheet or rigid plastics material and said profiled leg is of a T-shaped configuration, the seats in said casing portions being of corresponding T-shaped sections.

3. A support arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said brackets are provided with lugs for mounting the motor on the tub of the clothes washing machine.

4. A support arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein both the casing portions have a hub portion provided with a seat for carrying an anti-vibration sleeve member and one of the casing portions is provided with a plurality of holes for frontal mounting of the motor to the tub of the clothes washing machine.

5. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims in which the motor comprises a lamination pack interposed between said two casing portions.

6. A combination of a motor of a clothes washing machine and a support arrangement therefor, the combination being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A clothes washing machine incorporating a combination according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. An electric motor for a clothes washing machine or like machine, the motor having a pair of casing portions at opposed ends, the casing portions having defined thereon at least one pair of seats for receiving a profiled leg of a support arrangement for the motor, the seats of the pair having substantially the same cross-sectional shape and size as one another and being aligned lengthwise of the motor, one of the seats of the pair being a throughseat, through which the profiled leg can extend and the other being blind.

9. An electric motor constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of installing a motor in a clothes washing machine or like machine using a support arrangement comprising at least one bracket having a profiled leg comprising selecting one from a plurality of different motors, the motors each having a pair of casing portions provided with at least one pair of seats complementary to the profile of the profiled leg, one of the seats of each pair being a through-seat through which the profiled leg can extend and the other being blind, and engaging the leg of the or each bracket with the seats of the two casing portions of the selected motor.